New ruthenium(II) heteroleptic complexes containing the 4-(2-pyridyl)pyrimidine ligand with amine and amino acid substituents

New 4-(2-pyridyl)pyrimidines (L) have been synthesized in high yields by condensing enaminones with the appropriate carboxamidine or guanidine under basic conditions. These asymmetric bidentate diimine ligands coming from a one-step functionalization of amine and amino acid groups were complexed to ruthenium to obtain new heteroleptic complexes of type [Ru(bpy)(2)(L)](2+). The ligands and complexes have been characterized by usual analytical methods, and the crystallographic study of one complex has been performed. Their spectroscopic and electrochemical properties have been investigated. ZINDO Calculations show that in the MLCT excited state the electron is mainly localized on the pyridylpyrimidine ligand. On the basis of electrochemical data, the first reduction potential of the complexes has been assigned to the redox couple involving this ligand.